Bootable Win10 usb

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

So it all started when I installed an update on my Windows 10 pc. After I installed it and rebooted my computer, it was stuck on a bootloop. I had created a restore point before but for some reason I couldn't restore my pc, I got an error. So in order not to have to install Windows on my hard drive and have all my files deleted, I wanted to create a bootable usb. I did create one with Rufus, but when I boot into it it prompts me to install Windows on my hard drive and not boot into Windows from the usb. Correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't I be able to boot to the os right from the usb? I don't know if I did something wrong, I read a couple of guides on how to create a bootable usb and did exactly what they said. Maybe someone can help?

herrwizo · Apr 3, 2018

The bootable Win10 on USB is not supposed to boot to desktop, but only to install Windows.

Your data will remain intact if you reinstall, provided that you DO NOT FORMAT the C drive and only install over the existing installation. If you have a separate partition for your data files, such data will remain there intact even if you do format the C partition (however, you will have to reinstall all programs on C).

If you still wish to perform a manual backup, you could make a bootable linux USB such as ubuntu, which can read all windows drives. You can then copy your data as you normally would.

As a sidenote, did you try to boot in safe mode? You should be able to. Also, did you try to perform startup repair?

Phillip Corcoran · Apr 3, 2018

The Windows 10 bootable USB is for performing a fresh install, you can't actually boot in to Windows with it.

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

Nikos K :

Yes - you're wrong.
Windows installation media is used for windows installation as well as providing some recovery options.
You cant boot into windows from windows installation media.

therealduckofdeath · Apr 3, 2018

I think, what you're looking for is called Windows To Go. It's a Windows you install on a USB drive, which then can access the content on a PC. (As long as you're not blocked by drive encryption, that is). Here are a few tools you can use to create a Windows To Go USB drive:
http://www.intowindows.com/4-tools-to-create-windows-to-go-usb-of-windows-10/

It's natively only supposed to work for Windows 10 Enterprise but these utilities lets you create a USB drive with any Windows 10 edition.

Edit: I see you mention Rufus.

Maybe you're not creating the Windows To Go installation properly? Check the guides above, just in case.

rodolphe.viard · Apr 3, 2018

Hi Nikos,

What you can do is boot on linux with a USB then access to your file and copy them through linux.
Then do a total fresh install of Windows.

You lose your Softwares but not your files.

Rodolphe.

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

So I can't create a Windows to go usb because I only have an 8 gb one. I tried to install Windows on my hard drive using the usb on top on my current installation but if I choose the option of keeping my files it says that I can't do that from a usb stick and now the only option I'm left with is installing the other way which doesn't clearly state whether it lets me keep my files or not. I'm at this menu which lets me format, delete etc partitions and decide in which to install Windows. My question is, if I install it on my primary hard drive without formatting it, will my files be deleted?

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

You can shrink existing OS partition, make another one in freed up space and install windows there.

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

If you mean through this menu, I actually can't, this option is restricted for some reason

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

Not exactly.
You boot from windows installation media,
go into command prompt and
use diskpart utility to shrink existing partition and create a new one.

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

Thanks, will try that. How many gb should the partition be?

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

50GB would be enough (less than 30GB and you'll run into trouble with free space soon).

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

I have a problem: while I have about 90 gb free on my primary disk and 200+ on my second one, diskpart shows 1024 and 2048 kb free respectively

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

Did you shrink existing partition?

USAFRet · Apr 3, 2018

Hang on....before you go start messing with partitions sizes, etc.

1. You really, really need a full disk backup before you go down that path.
It is far too easy to screw things up, and be left with nothing.

2. What actual problem are you trying to solve?
A "reinstall" without messing up your current installed applications and files, etc?

A Win2Go is not really what you're looking for. Your already existing applications won't be usable with that.

So...what are you actually trying to do? And why?

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

@USAFRet as I said earlier, my pc was stuck in a bootloop after installing an update and I can't restore it, even though I created a system restore point right before installing the update, because i get an error. So my only option is to reinstall Windows, but I want to do so without losing my files

USAFRet · Apr 3, 2018

Nikos K :

Right.
And a Win2Go is not really what you want.
That is NOT a reinstall.

Once (if) you actually get that working, your current applications won't work, and the overall performance will be subpar.

What you need to do is save all of your current "files" (not applications), off to a different drive.
Embrace the pain, and do an actual regular clean install.
This means all of your applications, drivers, etc as well.

In your current situation, a Win2Go running from a USB is simply putting a Bandaid on a sucking chest wound.

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

And if I install Windows without formatting the disk, what will happen?

USAFRet · Apr 3, 2018

Nikos K :

Booting from the USB install thing, during the install, it gives you the option to "Keep Everything". All your files and applications would remain in place, just with a fixed OS install.
This may or may not work, depending on the state of the current system.

Anytime you go into something like this, you really need a good backup of anything you're not prepared to lose forever.

(Anytime you turn the PC on, you should have a good backup of anything you're not prepared to lose forever.)

Nikos K · Apr 3, 2018

So as it seems my best option would be to buy a new disk and install Windows there and probably that's what I'm going to do. Anyways, thanks for the help everyone

SkyNetRising · Apr 3, 2018

Did you try shrinking current OS partition?

As about worries of loosing data because of this, chances are extremely slim.
Shrink operation works really fast (in seconds). To get any problems, you'd need to interrupt power during the process.

therealduckofdeath · Apr 3, 2018

A 16 GB USB drive costs less than 10 bucks, if you really want to avoid tampering with your partition table. Since you've had some sort of file system issue on it, I totally agree with USAFret that it's probably best not to keep meddling with it until you've backed up whatever you need to back up.

Nikos K · Apr 5, 2018

Thanks for your answers, eventually decided just to install Windows over the old installation. All my files were moved to Windows.old folder, now I just need to reinstall all my applications

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